This cookie jar is a hoot!

I spotted this cookie/cracker jar at Anthropologie:

I love it's vintage, kitschy appearance. It reminds me of sweet grandmothers. And the colors would go perfectly in our kitchen!

And though I have no need or use for them, I also love the colors of these Anthropologie bowls:

Speaking of the dining room...

I haven't yet posted pictures of those West Elm plates I was contemplating.

Shortly after that blog post, I ordered the plates. They were perfect!

I decided against hanging the plates on the wall, and put them on the existing black shelves instead. My mom also found some great white vases at a local store. The cut-out detail reminds me of tree branches.

One of these days, we will paint those shelves the same red as the wall. Until then, we're pretty happy with the way the dining room is turning out!

Questions

I like this table runner from Williams-Sonoma:

But will it go with my dining room?

Is the runner white or ivory?

Would it be too much red? 

Christmas recap

Christmas is over, and it's time to pack everything up. But first, I have to mention some Christmas items that really made me smile.

Each year when we decorate for Christmas, I come across these Mr. and Mrs. Claus candle holders in my tote. I always place them on the window sill above the kitchen sink.

My mom tells me that they came from Hallmark. They've been around as long as I can remember. In fact, I was certain I remembered them being on top of the old TV set along with other Christmas decor. I found a picture, but as you can see, they aren't there...

Either way, I absolutely love the Mr. and Mrs. Claus candle holders. I always forget about them, so they make me happy every time I pull them out of the tote. This year, while decorating for Christmas for the first time in our new home, I started thinking about other ornaments and decor from my childhood.

We traveled "home" for Christmas this year, and I found a box of ornaments my mom had made when I was a kid. She is an artist, woodworker and seamstress, and had hand-crafted all of these beautiful ornaments. Here are just a few:

I took the chance to bring them back with me, and I'll be excited to add them to our tree next year!

Even though I now have a box of handmade classic wood and fabric ornaments from my childhood, I want to keep shiny glass bulbs as well. The bulbs I've been using are rose, ivory, and gold (they were hand-me-downs), and I want to update them to match the colors of our current living room.

So while I was at Target today, I noticed that not only did they have 75% off holiday items, but that they also had an aisle of glass bulbs left! I picked up 4 boxes of bulbs for just $6. I used a Target gift card that I got as a Christmas gift, and I ended up with them for free.

I'd like to find some new red and white bulbs as well. Maybe I can find more while everything is on sale!